We often train our students and staff on campus, but how we measure the success of that training is often subjective and often not done. Here at the University of Utah we recently started to test our students knowledge of fire safety and the training they received during the start of the semester. What we found during the initial testing phase was that their basic knowledge of fire safety principles was lower than we thought. Using the NIFAST Flashpoint Testing Program, we were able to identified the number one problem facing our students: the lack of understanding of fire safe cooking. The overall population failed to correctly answer cooking fire safety questions. This information is now being used to rework the training program we will use next year for Resident Advisor training and the programs we run throughout the school year for student floor activities. The test was invaluable to the future of our program.
Mike Halligan – Associate Director Environmental Health and Safety University of Utah
